Folding container



fin/v6 ATTORN EY INVENTOR Kay 14/. lfrouf a. K? I 1 m.

Dec. 19, 1939. R. w. KROUT FOLDING CONTAINER Filed NOV. 29, 1938Patented Dec. 19, 1939 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charms Company,ration of Delaware Bloomfield, N. J., a. corpo- Application November 29,1938, Serial No. 242,988

2 Claims. This invention relates to improvements in containers;particularly containers for packaging merchandise to be stored, shipped,or displayed for sale.

5 An object of the invention is to provide a container such as a box orreceptacle, which is so constructed that it can, before or after thecontents are removed, be set up as an ornamental toy. Hence it gives theowner an inducement to keep it for a long time after the contents areused up, instead of throwing away or destroying the container.

Preferably, the container is made of cardboard or other suitable sheetmaterial, from which a'blank is cut and then bent into the desiredconfiguration. The container is closed at the sides and bottom but openat the top; where it is provided with a special means which can closethe container and cover the contents, and 20 at the same time readilypermit the container to be opened. Said means when properly disposedcontrib-ute directly to the toy design and shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container with closingmembers adapted to enable the container to be shipped in the form. of acompact unit; but capable, with proper manipulation, of being secured inposition to give the outside of the container a totally different 30 andmore pleasing eifect.

The container is primarily intended for assorted candies, but obviouslyit may be used for any other article. As herein disclosed it isapproximately square in shape and it is given such an appearance as tomake it resemble an attractive toy house. The closing members are suchthat when the container has been filled said members can be laid downflat upon the candy to cover same; thus making a very neat, regularpackage for shipment. However, when the container is to be exhibited forsale, or after sale, said members are set up so that the entire packageis converted into a toy house or cottage with a gabled roof. The closingmembers give the structure of the roof; and they are hinged to the bodyof the container, and can be quickly interengaged to remain in set-upposition, closing the box as before but nevertheless allowing easyaccess to the inside thereof.

Further, along with the candy inside the box a number of knockdowncardboard additions or appurtenances can be included to elaborate andcomplete the appeal thereof. Such additions make an outside porch orveranda, doorsills, chimney, bay windows, attic windows and the like;all of cardboard or other material to be bent into appropriate form andhaving tongues or projections which enter slots in the container to holdthem in place.

The invention thus in practice is well calculated to increase sales; andit serves not only as a storage receptacle for carrying the candies fromthe manufacturer to the distributor and buyer but it also has greatadvertising value. When candies are sold in a box, the latter is usuallythrown away as soon as it is emptied, but a, box or containeraccordingto this invention can be transformed as above into a possessiondear to children, and will therefore be kept for a long;

time, during which it is a constant reminder of the candies that werebought in it and the manufacturer who produced them. The bottom of thebox or any other part can be printed with the name and address of themaker or other advertising matter; and the exterior can be finished offin various bright colors and markings tosuit the season or the class ofbuyers to whom it is offered. The box can be shipped as Well as anyother box, because the additions will be merely fiat pieces of specialoutline: inside of it;

and the top will consist of members which, as before stated, will liedown flat against the contents until the box is put on sale or sold.There is thus no likelihood of damage in transit, and when the buyeronce gets it he can moment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullydescribed hereinafter and the novel features will be pointed out in theappended claims.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end view of the box showing the top parts folded down aswhen the box is to be stored or shipped;

Figure 2 is a top view partly in section showing the parts in similarposition, indicating the shape of the hinged members at the top of thebox to close it and to be set up in imitation of the roof of a house;

Figure 3 is a perspective View showing in detail 5 the means by whichthe closing members are engaged to be maintained in set-up position;part of the container being included;

Figure 4 shows the bottom construction;

Figure 5 is a side view of set up to give full resemblance to a housewith the additions attached;

Figure 6 is an end view with the partsin the same position; and

Figure 7 is a detail showing a blank which can v set it up in a 30 thecontainer when be bent to form one of the tenances, such as a sill forthe house.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

The container has four sides; a front I, rear 2, and ends 3 and 4. Asstated above, it is made of a fiat blank of cardboard or other suitablematerial provided on one face with transverse creases or score lines, sothat when the cardboard is bent along the score lines it can be givenform. The ends of the blank are secured together by an adhesive or anyother suitable means, preferably at one of the corners of the container.At the bottom, hinged to the front and rear walls, are sections 5 and 6,one of which has projections or tabs '1 and the other cuts or slits 8into which the tabs can be inserted. The flaps or sections 5 and 6 thusengage each other as indicated in Figure 4, showing in elevation aportion of the bottom, and close the bottom; and the contents areintroduced through the top when the container is filled. Inside bottomflaps (not shown) attached to ends 3 and 4 may lie under the flapsadditions or appurone of the doors of 5 and (i.

Hinged to the upper edges of the front and back are closing members 9and It, and the ends 3 and 4 have hinged extensions H. These extensionsare triangular to cooperate with the members 9 and E8 to afford a gabletop; and the entire container will thus resemble in appearance a houseor cottage with a double-sloping roof. The members 9 and ID are ofcourse in one piece with the blank and so are the extensions l I (andthe flaps 5 and 5) and the blank is further provided with score lines orcreases along the inner surfaces to enable these members, flaps andextensions to be turned over as required. This construction affords theadvantage that when the container is i filled with candy or any othercommodity the extensions H and members 9 and it can be laid down flat ontop of the contents, as in Figures 1 and 2. The container can now betied with cord, if necessary, to keep it shut. After the container issold, or when it is exposed for sale, the top members 9 and i9 and theextensions H can be set up as in Figures i and 5.

To hold the members 9 and It in set-up position, each side of thetriangular extensions I i has a hinged wing l2, united to the extensionsalong creases or score lines l3. Each wing H is substantially triangularand when the extensions and wings are in the same plane, the extensionswith the wings are aproximately square in shape. See Figure 2. The outeror free ends of the members 8 and ill have similar score lines markingoff flanges 14, so that the flanges can be bent over, as in Figures 3and 6. When a dealer or buyer, who receives the container with the parts9, H) and l l folded down, wishes to put up the roof, he lifts theextensions ll till they are upright and bends inward the wings 12. SeeFigure 3. The members 9 and i0 also are lifted, and the flanges M areforced down and inserted between the wings 2 at each end of thecontainer. The upper edges of the wings l2 lie close together butseparated to form narrow slots or notches for the end portions of theflanges i l. When the flanges M are inserted into these slots theflanges I l brace the extensions ll against falling downward and inwardand the Wings engage the roof members and maintain them in correctlocation.

Windows at various points are represented on the house, as indicated atl5 and a large one in the end 4, indicated at I5a.

The container is rendered still more attractive by small pieces ofcardboard or the like, which are provided with creases or score linesfor bending, and projections to be inserted into slits in the walls androof. As illustrated the container has additions to create theappearance of a chimney E5 on one of the roof members and a roofed atticwindow l? on the other, with projections 25 which enter slits 28 tomount them. Likewise, there will be a veranda floor 2i with roof 22 andcolumns 3 at one end of the house over the window 55a, a door sill l8and a projecting vestibule roof is over it for a door represented at theother, a similar sill and roof for the main entrance 2i) pictured on thefront wall l, and additions 26 forming bay windows for the front andback walls of the house. One of these appurtenances, such as the sillI8, is illustrated in Figure 7. It has score lines l3 to enable thecardboard to be turned down in front, extensions 2'5 for the sides withwings 28 to go under the top, and tongues 25 for the slits 26. Theothers will be similarly made, each according to the selected outlineand purpose in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

From the foregoing description themerits of the invention will be quiteapparent. The container is effectively closed when the parts 9, l0 andll are laid flat on the top, and it is also closed when the members 9and it are set up, 2'.

because their free ends are maintained in adjacent relation by the Wings12. In this condition the container can be opened merely by lifting oneof the members 9 or ID.

The exterior of the container can be suitably finished in lines andcolors that present an outline of roof tiles, stones, bricks, timber,and trim, with the doors and windows and the various outsideappurtenances in any position chosen for them. It always makes anacceptable gift because when the candy has all been eaten, the containercan be turned over to the children in the family, or otherwise used fordisplay in the owners house.

Of course the appurtenances shown can be varied in number and characterto any desired extent. They may include a cardboard Santa Claus in asleigh with reindeer for insertion between the flanges M to make a boxof candy suitable for the Christmas holidays.

While I have described the container as having certain specificstructural features, I of course do not wish to be strictly limitedthereto but desire 1e invention to be construed as broadly as isconsistent with the broad terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new and wish toprotect by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A container having four sides, a hinged triangular extension at thetop edges of each of two opposite sides of the container, a flexiblewing extending from each of said extensions, a hinged cover memberattached to the top edge of each of the remaining two opposite sides andeach having a flexible portion along its free edge, said extensions andsaid members being capable of taking overlapped positions to close thetop or being set up with said wings projecting inward and said portionsinserted between the wings of each extension to cause said members toprovide a gable roof for said container.

2. A container having four sides, a hinged cover member attached to thetop edge of each of two opposite sides and a triangular extensionattached to the top edge of each of the other two oppositesides,- theextensions and the hinged members being adapted to be folded down inflat overlapping relation, the outer ends of each of said members havinga flexible portion, and each of the extensions having wings which can bebent to extend inward from said extensions when the latter are set up,

said then wings having their upper edges substantially parallel butspaced apart forming slots to receive the flexible portions along thefree ends of the hinged members, so that the said members are engagedwith said Wings and thereby held in set-up position to form a gable roofon said container.

RAY W. KROUT.

